Picture: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo
By REGINALD KANYANE
25 June 2025- In a decisive move to combat rising water pollution and protect South Africa’s water security, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, will embark on an oversight working visit to Rustenburg, North West Province from 27 to 28 June 2025.
The Department of Water and Sanitation Head of Communications, Dr Mandla Mathebula said the visit highlights Seitlholo’s firm commitment to ensuring that wastewater treatment facilities operate effectively and comply with environmental standards. Mathebula said with pollution increasingly threatening the quality of South Africa’s water sources, Seitlholo is taking decisive steps to assess, intervene and support long-term solutions that protect public health and water security.
“A focal point of the working visit will be Vaalkop Dam, where invasive alien vegetation, driven by pollution, has overtaken the water body and is severely hampering water abstraction and treatment operations, thus directly affecting operations of the Vaalkop Water Treatment Works.
“The oversight visit will also include strategic stakeholder engagements with local municipalities in the Rustenburg area and the Magalies Water Board, aimed at finding collaborative solutions to pollution, infrastructure deficiencies, and long-term water management challenges,” he said.
Picture: Some of drugs seized by the police/Supplied
By AGISANANG SCUFF
25 June 2025- The police in Northern Cape said the Operation Shanela continues with unabated activities addressing crime in the ZFM District. The police said several actions including stop and searches, VCPs and crime awareness were conducted on 24 June 2025.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said members of Upington Public Order Police, conducted drug raids in the Postmasburg area during which one suspect was arrested after being found in possession of tik, mandrax and dagga valued at approximately R 7 350.00. Masegela said a Vehicle Check Point was conducted by Upington SAPS focusing on the trafficking of illicit substances.
“Traffic fines to the value of R3 700 were issued to non-compliant motorists. Crime awareness on contact crimes was also conducted in the Paballelo and Rosedale areas during which pamphlets were distributed during door to door activities and engagement with the community during a stakeholder dialogue at Piet Thole community hall.
“Police Stations within the ZFM District will intensify their efforts to address and dismantle crime within respective policing precincts,” she said.
Picture: The Ratlou Local Municipality mayor, Matlhomola Jafta
By BAKANG MOKOTO
June 2025- The Ratlou Local Municipality mayor, Matlhomola Jafta will on Saturday, officially unveil the 2025 Ratlou Mayoral Cup Soccer and Netball Tournament. Jafta said the full day sporting thriller will take place at Setlagole Sports-ground, where five teams from ward clusters across the municipality are expected to log horns in both semi-final and final competitions.
He further said there will be both men football and women netball matches. Jafta added that the gates will open at 8:30am, for the official opening ceremony with the kick-off of the first match starting at 9:30am.
“The June month is historically earmarked to honour and celebrate the bravery displayed by the young people on 16 June 1976. The Soweto Uprising turned the tide in the liberation struggle of South Africa as young people took to the street and finally demanded equal education for all South Africans.
“The Youth Month Mayoral Cup Tournament is expected to bring Setlagole to a standstill. Young people from various quarters of the Ratlou are expected to descend to Setlagole Sports-ground on 28 June 2025, to wrap-up the Youth Month in style,” he said.
Jafta said the intention of the games is to allow youth to display and discover their talent, while at the same time discourage them from using illegal substances and take them out of the street.
Picture: The attempted murder and murder accused, Tshwaro Mangwegape
By OBAKENG MAJE
25 June 2025- A murder and attempted murder case against The Meat Brother’s Pub owner, Tshwaro Mangwegape (41), to resume in court. Mangwegape, who is out on a R5000 bail, is accused of shooting and killing the NWU Soccer Institute player, Undivile “Vilo” Mdi (28) and injuring his friend, Aobakwe Ernest Kokwe (33).
On 17 December 2023, Mdi and Kokwe were amongst patrons who visited the Meat Brother’s Pub that was full to capacity. It is alleged that the security guards refused entry to patrons who did not have Identification Documents (IDs) and that led to a stampede.
Mdi and Kokowe allegedly tried to gain entry forcefully, but Mangwegape allegedly pulled out a gun and shot at them. Mdi was fatally shot, while his friend was rushed to the hospital with terrible gunshot wounds.
Picture: The illegal Lesotho sangoma abandons bail/Generic
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
25 June 2025- An illegal Lesotho national Sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana (50), abandoned his bail application at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court. Khounyana is facing charges of premeditated murder, human trafficking of a baby, Kutlwano Shalaba (2) and being illegal in the country.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said Khounyana’s co-accused, the mother of the child, Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba (32), is facing charges of premeditated murder, human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and making a false statement to the police.
“It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, the mother of the child took the child to the sangoma and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the gender of the baby and was tired of hiding it from her family that in fact, the child was a girl.
“The mother then allegedly fed the baby poison and after the baby died, it is alleged that the two took the child and buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan,” she said.
Mahanjana further said after investigations by the police, the sangoma was arrested on 29 May 2025 and he subsequently made a confession and pointed out to the police about where the body of the child was buried. She added that after the brief appearance in court, the matter was postponed to 6 August 2025 for further investigations.
“The court previously denied the mother’s release on bail,” said Mahanjana.
Picture: The Orbit College FC players during a match/Facebook
By REGINALD KANYANE
25 June 2025- Destiny beckons for Orbit College Football Club as the team plays what is arguably their most significant match of their short history. The Rustenburg-based outfit plays the PSL playoff match against Cape Town City at Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg at 3pm.
The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said over the years, Orbit College FC had demonstrated a remarkable ascent to the football cradle beginning with winning the North West Stream A to ABC Motsepe League as well as gaining promotion to National First Division two years ago.
“We are very proud of the team from Platinum City which has put our province on the map once again” said Premier Lazarus Mokgosi.
“We implore on football lovers in and around the entire Bojanala Platinum District to come in numbers and support the team in this important match,” said Mokgosi.
He further said the team needs to win their last playoff match to ensure they qualify to play in the elite league in the 2025/2026 PSL season. Mokgosi added that, they have played three matches, drawing two and winning one, but importantly without conceding a single goal.
“A straight win will be enough as the team would be having an unassailable eight points lead. The last time the province had a team in the PSL was in 2018 with Platinum Stars FC, which sold its status to the Cape Town club called Cape Umoya United.
“Never before had we been this close to a PSL status since then, and we all are crossing our fingers for Orbit College” said Mokgosi.
Picture: One of the huts at initiation school/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
25 June 2025- The Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee in North West said it has shut down 14 illegal initiation schools and rescued 67 initiates in Bojanala Platinum, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts as the winter initiation season starts. The shutdowns were done during the extensive monitoring operations across the province to ensure that all schools operating during the period are compliant with the Customary Initiation Act of 2021, which provides for the effective regulation of customary initiation practices.
The Deputy Chairperson of the PICC, Andries Stemmer said they are also inundated with calls from parents and South African Police Service -SAPS reporting cases of missing young boys, who are believed to have been abducted by principals of bogus schools, who in turn demand a huge ransom from parents. Stemmer said during a recent oversight visit to Tigane, near Klerksdorp, the committee uncovered serious non-compliance at two initiation schools, which were operating without the required documentation.
“The schools were closed, and two cases were opened against the bogus principals, reinforcing the committee’s zero-tolerance stance on unregulated initiation practices. In light of this, the committee has intensified its inspections across all regions of the province to ensure full compliance before the start of the initiation season this weekend.
“No school will be allowed to operate without proper documentation, and those found in violation will face legal consequences. It is important to have a collaborative approach with all role players to ensuring safe and dignified initiation processes,” he said.
Stemmer further urge all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, religious leaders, civil society and the media to support the creation of a safe environment and stop the bogus principals who want to commercialise the practise. He added that they can prevent malpractice and eliminate harmful misconceptions about this cultural practice.
“There is need for robust communication efforts to reinforce government’s commitment to the safety of initiates. We support the national message: ‘A ba bowe ba phela’ which means all the initiates must return home alive. So, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that all initiates are under the good care of the experienced principals.
“Hundred and three initiation schools were approved to operate in three districts across the province excluding Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district. For non-school going initiates, the initiation season started on 09 May 2025 and for school going initiates, it will start this Friday 27 June 2025. All initiation schools will close on the18 July 2025 to allow for school going children to go back to classes,” said Stemmer.
He said the PICC sends a stern warning to any school or operator intending to bypass regulatory requirements. Stemmer said non-compliance will not be tolerated, and swift legal action will be taken.The monitoring operation will continue until the schools are closed.
Picture: Some of firearms seized by the police/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
24 June 2025- Three suspects who allegedly killed an attorney, Katlego Moribe (38), were arrested during a successful collaborative effort between the Northern Cape and North West police in Ganyesa village, near Vryburg on 23 and 24 June 2025. Moribe was killed in a hail of bullets at Block A in Seoding village, near Kuruman on 1 June 2025.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said following an intensive investigation, members of the Northern Cape Crime Intelligence, in conjunction with Crime Intelligence in the North West Province, the Mahikeng Tactical Response Team and the Vryburg Public Order Police, launched a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation in Ganyesa, near Vryburg. Ehlers said the operation took place between the evening of 23 June 2025, and the early hours of 24 June 2025.
“The team also recovered illegal firearms and ammunition in their possession. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon and the investigation remains ongoing,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, praised the outstanding cooperation between the two provinces and cited the critical role of inter-provincial collaboration in ensuring that justice is served and that individuals responsible for serious and violent crimes are held accountable.
Picture: The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Dr Nobuhle Nkabane
By AGISANANG SCUFF
24 June 2025 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, has called on the Department of Higher Education to be proactive in plugging the gap left by the US cuts in grant funding that occurred earlier in 2025. Feni said a deliberate drive is needed, even if it means going on tour abroad to mobilise resources for research purposes.
“The grant funding impact was massive and at a time when South Africa found itself operating in a fiscally constrained environment. We must not allow a situation where community-based research programmes suffer and get aborted due to this decision.
“The Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has informed the committee that work to address this issue is being done,” He said.
Feni said in addition, the government had opted for a collaborative approach, as cuts affected programmes administered by the departments of Health and of Science and Technology. According to him, Nkabane said a technical team has been set up to coordinate and collate the affected programmes.
“The committee welcomes the news that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation is contributing to resource mobilisation. We would appreciate it if all these efforts yield results.
“Our institutions are research intensive and that is one area we excel in and could not lose momentum. The committee is looking forward to receiving the report on the sector-wide impact of the funding cuts,” said Feni.
He said Nkabane led a strong departmental delegation to present the department’s annual performance and strategic plans.
24 June 2025- The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) on Tuesday called for zero tolerance road traffic law enforcement and improved visibility in order to reduce the carnage on public roads. The call is in the aftermath of the recent road accident that claimed 12 lives on the R24 near Vryheid in KwaZulu Natal. SAUCIC representing affiliated Federations of Charismatic, Evangelical Outreach Mission Ministries and Pentecostal Churches conveyed condolences to families of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members that lost their lives in the accident that involved a bus and a truck while returning from a Youth Day Rally held in Durban last Monday.
SAUCIC President Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole said the precious lives of these young people were cut short by this horrific accident attributed to possible reckless driving and speeding responsible for untold misery that has left families devastated, as well as robbed the country of their contribution.
Shole said SAUCIC’s prayers of comfort are with families that are in mourning and that it also wishes those injured a speedy recovery. He appealed for the Easter Road Safety Strategy that resulted in zero fatalities during the annual Zion Christian Church (ZCC) pilgrimage in Limpopo to be replicated to other areas during public holidays and long weekends.
“Religious and political tourism increase traffic on our public roads and require zero tolerance road traffic law operations to clamp down on lawlessness as well as prevent road crashes and fatalities on our roads. One life lost on public roads is a life too many.
“There must therefore be an offense against reckless driving, speeding and drunken driving. Motorists travelling long distances can assist in reducing the carnage on our roads by exercising caution and resting after every two hours to avoid fatigue which is a killer,” concluded Shole.
The Guardian 